Cicada ice cream explained

Cicada ice cream is usually a vanilla brown sugar ice cream mixed with cicadas. Although ice cream and cicadas have been consumed for many years, the ice cream combination first became notable in Columbia, Missouri 2011 at Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream.

History

Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream in Columbia Missouri sold Cicada ice cream during cicada mating season as a way of combating the invasion of these insects. [1] [2] [3] The Ice cream has a brown sugar and butter flavored base, Some compared the taste to that of peanuts.[4] However, it's not clear whether the taste or curiosity caused the popularity of this flavor but the first batch was sold out before it was even placed on display.[5] The attention made by unique ice cream flavor brought concerns from the health department[6]

In June 2024, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recommended considering adding cicadas to your ice cream as a topping. [7] Some University of Illinois Extension educators explored the fascination of the insects and ended up trying them themselves.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: Gray . Bryce . May 21, 2024 . Cicadas served up by botanical garden . October 1, 2024 . St-Louis Post-Dispatch . A1.
  2. Book: Ettinger, Amy . Sweet spot : an ice cream binge across America . Dutton . 2017 . 1st . 978-1-101-98419-2 . en . October 1, 2024.
  3. Web site: Peralta . Eyder . Making The Best Out Of Invasion, Missouri Shop Makes Cicada Ice Cream . NPR . June 7, 2011 . October 6, 2024.
  4. Web site: Cicada ice cream maker may have to shelve popular flavor . October 1, 2024 . Sarasota Herald-Tribune . en-US . Associated Press.
  5. Web site: Peralta . Eyder . June 7, 2011 . Making The Best Out Of Invasion, Missouri Shop Makes Cicada Ice Cream . . September 20, 2024.
  6. Web site: Freeman . David . August 6, 2011 . Cicada Ice Cream bug health officials in Missouri: Why? . September 26, 2024 . CBS.
  7. Web site: Beese . Kevin . June 12, 2024 . Cicadas on your ice cream? Pizza? It doesn't bug some - Chronicle Media . October 1, 2024 . chronicleillinois.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: Consider adding periodical cicadas to summer list of favorite ice cream toppings | Serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan and Scott Counties | Illinois Extension | UIUC. Jenna. Braasch. June 5, 2024. extension.illinois.edu.

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